I don't even care for it, thank you very much!

After Yi Chen finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the room.

Xiao Qi was furious, “You filthy scoundrel, capitalist, profiteer, tasteless excuse for a man… Quit? Fine! I don’t care in the slightest!”

Yi Chen tried to approach Xi Yang with a rational and icy demeanor.

Yet he faltered; he couldn’t manage it at all.

No one knew what he felt when he heard the words, “Miss Ye committed suicide for love.”

It was as if his heart, after those few words were spoken, suddenly ceased to beat.

Yet it lay in his chest with a piercing pain.

He rushed into the room and saw someone mumbling under the blanket.

That heart, threatening to stop, finally resumed its normal rhythm.

He yanked the covers away.

“Auntie, I said I wanted to become a fasting beauty, can’t you let me quietly—”

“Fasting will only make you an ugly ghost starved to death.”

Seeing who it was, Xiao Qi avoided his gaze. “What are you doing here?”

“If I don’t come, you’ll become an ugly ghost starved to death?”

“…”

Xiao Qi sulked, “It’s none of your business anyway. You told me to get lost, now I tell you to get lost. Go on, get out—”

“I see you don’t know what’s good for you,” Yi Chen said with a sinister look. “You want to die, huh? Fine, tomorrow you’ll resign, then go die, because I don’t want rumors spreading that my subordinate stupidly committed suicide.”

“…”

Yi Chen finished speaking and walked out.

Xiao Qi was beside herself with anger, “You filthy scoundrel, capitalist, profiteer, tasteless excuse for a man… Quit? Fine! I don’t care in the slightest!”

Next to her, Xiao Bai nuzzled her head, “Xiao Qi, don’t be angry, don’t get so mad you drop dead.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t dropping dead be even better? Saves me from fasting.”

“But it’s not worth it!”

“It’s all the same, dead is dead, what’s not worth it?” Xiao Qi lay back down.

Yi Yang called Xi Yang, but her phone was off.

He called his brother, but his brother wouldn’t answer.

Then he called Fang Li; Fang Li merely said that President Lin seemed to have quarreled with Miss Ye.

Yi Yang ran to the restaurant to find Xi Yang.

But Xi Yang stayed hidden, refusing to show her face.

No matter what he said, she wouldn’t come out.

He could only return.

On the way, his mother called. He didn’t want to answer, but he was her only son.

Xu Lu, once the call connected, spoke earnestly, “Yi Yang, just go to the company, will you? As long as you go, I won’t target Yi Chen anymore, okay?”

“And the people around my brother.”

Hearing this, Xu Lu immediately smiled, “Yi Chen, is that a promise?”

Yi Yang didn’t know why he’d said that, but the words were already out.

Moreover…

“Yes, as long as you promise not to hurt my brother or those around him, I’ll go to the company tomorrow.”

“Good, good, as long as you go, I’ll agree to anything.”

……

The next morning, Xiao Qi arrived at TC with a stormy mood, marched straight to the president’s office, and slapped her resignation letter down in front of President Lin, loudly declaring, “I quit! Sign it now!”

Yi Chen glanced at the letter, then picked up his pen…

And began grading papers.

As if the person before him were invisible.

Xiao Qi was indignant, “Hey, my resignation letter! Would you please sign it, President Lin?”

He replied lightly, “Not signing.”

“…”

“Why?”

“No time.”

“…”

“Hey,” Xiao Qi propped both hands on the desk, eyes blazing, “Are you playing with me?”

Yi Chen looked up at her and said smoothly, “You may not know, but when you joined the company, you signed a five-year contract, a non-compete agreement, and the highest confidentiality contract with me. If you really want to leave, you’ll have to pay me a million in breach of contract penalties and face a lawsuit. Do you still want to resign?”

“…”

Xiao Qi was bewildered, “When did I sign a contract with you?”

Yi Chen calmly took out an employee contract, opened it, and placed it before her.

He pointed to the signature at the bottom.

Xiao Qi looked and, sure enough, it was her name.

She was about to pick it up, but President Lin closed the contract. “First, pay a million in breach penalties and go to court. Second, stay and work here, with a high salary. Which do you choose?”

“…”

Only a fool would choose the first, but…

Xiao Qi stubbornly said, “I have no money, just a life. Do with it as you please!”

Hmph, does he really think I scare easily?

Besides, whatever I do, I won’t die. Good, let’s see how far he’ll go.

Yi Chen tapped his finger thoughtfully along the edge of the table. “Seems you’re choosing the first. Well, your aunt’s restaurant is thriving; if we use it as collateral, it should cover a million. Go tell your aunt to wait for the court summons…”

“Ah, how can you be so despicable?”

“Thank you,” Yi Chen shot her a glance. “Either work properly for a high salary, or go tell your aunt…”

“I’m nobody’s fool,” Xiao Qi gritted her teeth. “Of course I’ll take the high salary,” she said, striding out.

Fang Li watched Xiao Qi storm out of the president’s office and silently mourned for her.

Only this silly Miss Ye would be fooled by President Lin’s fake contract.

But this style of trickery—or rather, this masterful strategizing—really suits President Lin.

It was Fang Li who arranged work for Xiao Qi.

With an indignant spirit, Xiao Qi started her tasks, but her efficiency was pitifully low.

She got nothing done for hours.

Her anger simmered as she wandered to the restroom.

“Yi Yang,” Xu Hui led Yi Yang into the spacious office, “This is your office, and your father specially appointed you as director of new project development. You can fully showcase your artistic talent, focusing on projects for the female market. This is the company’s future focus…”

“Arrange it however you like. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“…”

Yi Yang stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, radiating an air of detachment and coldness.

“I’ll leave you to it. Just call if you need anything.”

“Mm.”

Once Xu Hui left, Yi Yang turned and stepped out of the office.

He went to the restroom and ran into Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi, seeing Yi Yang in a sharp suit, was awestruck, “Wow, Yi Yang, you look stunning in this!”

Yi Yang smiled gently. “Dressed like this, do I look like my brother? Like a business elite?”

“He’s no elite; he’s a beast in a suit,” Xiao Qi muttered.

“Xi Yang, what did you say?”

“Oh, nothing.” Suddenly she remembered, “Wait, why are you in the company?”

“Let me introduce myself formally,” Yi Yang adjusted his tie seriously. “I’m the new director of project development.”

As he spoke, Yi Yang looked down at her. “Xi Yang, what happened yesterday? Did you argue with my brother?”

“It was more than an argument,” Xiao Qi flared up again. “We’re sworn enemies now.”

“…”

Yi Yang was puzzled, “What did he do to upset you?”

“He…” Xiao Qi took a breath, “He told me to resign. Fine, I listened and resigned. But this morning, he suddenly claimed I’d signed a contract with him. If I quit, I have to pay him a million in breach penalties. I’ve never met anyone so shameless.”

Yi Yang immediately knew his brother was up to his old tricks, “calculating” against Xi Yang.

But naturally, he defended his brother. “Actually, my brother’s not so bad, just stubborn. Once he’s decided on something, nothing can change his mind.”

Xiao Qi twisted her fingers. “I don’t want to see him now, but if I leave the company, I have to pay a penalty. Oh, my fate is so bitter.”

Yi Yang thought for a moment, “Xi Yang, how about this? I’ll transfer you to my department. That way, even though you’re in the same company, it’s big enough that you might not run into my brother.”

“You think your brother will agree?”

“True.”

“No matter,” Xiao Qi perked up instantly, “With my cosmic little witch powers, you think I can’t outwit him? Just wait! Sooner or later, I’ll strip your brother's hair and teeth, make him ugly as can be.”

“…”

……

Our self-proclaimed cosmic little witch, Xiao Qi, had just arrived at her post when Fang Li came to relay President Lin’s message: “Miss Ye, it’s lunchtime. President Lin asks you to deliver takeout from your aunt’s restaurant.”

Xiao Qi stared, dumbfounded, “I have to deliver takeout to him?”

“Yes,” Fang Li replied seriously. “President Lin also said that from now on, you must bring his lunch every day. You can leave at ten and return by eleven. An hour for the round trip is more than enough. President Lin generously said your taxi fare will be reimbursed.”

“…”

Xiao Qi forced a smile. “Did your President Lin also say the dishes must change daily according to the time and cooking method, never repeat, and that boiled and stir-fried dishes shouldn’t be duplicated…?”

“President Lin is a remarkable man. So what you just said, he might indeed demand something that extraordinary.”

“…”

Damn, this assistant Fang is just as bad as that capitalist.

“Miss Ye,” Fang Li said seriously again, “President Lin says you have one hour to deliver lunch. If you’re late by a minute, you lose a hundred yuan.”

“…”

So Xiao Qi worked two jobs for the pay of one.

But TC paid handsomely, so she was somewhat placated.

Yet soon, her mood soured again.

At exactly eleven, Xiao Qi delivered the takeout to the president’s office.

She wondered why the capitalist wasn’t there—was he in a meeting?

Then the meeting room door opened, and that upright figure emerged, surrounded by a group of department heads.

So he’d been in there meeting!

The department heads all nodded politely, “Hello, Miss Ye!”

Awkward!

Why were they so courteous? She was just a small employee, and a new one at that.

Yi Chen glanced at her and suddenly said, “Xi Yang, put the food on the coffee table and open it for me.”

“Oh!” Though she didn’t understand, Xiao Qi followed his instructions.

She opened the food, then watched as a dozen people sat on the sofa, President Lin settled in his soft chair, picked up papers to read, occasionally looking up to discuss projects she couldn’t comprehend.

Uh! Hadn’t they finished their meeting? Why were they still at it?

Xiao Qi didn’t think much of it—everyone was so earnest, she quietly slipped out.

But—

“Xi Yang,” President Lin, who had been discussing projects with the executives, suddenly turned to her, “Bring the food over here.”

“Oh!”